Ibasso 1 bit Discrete portable DAC with Resistors Array D16

[CharlyBrown]

I use mine with 800s , but when needed for more analog timbers, I pair with pb5 amp

This

 

[Layman1]

Welcome Layman1, welcome to the club

 

[JLeeMD]

Hey guys, new to personal audio but not new to high-end audio. After building my end-game 2-channel set-up (Magico S3 MkII, Luxman M900u, Shunyata Everest), I turned to personal audio as my wife’s study being close to my set-up limited when I could enjoy my music. I bought the D16 to use with the Utopia 2022 (Kimber Axios connecting the two) and it sounded very good. Since I wanted a transportable set-up, I thought this was as good as it was going to get. I got curious about the PB5 so I ordered one and holy cow did the sound quality take a big leap forward. Soundstage exploded in every direction, the music flowed effortlessly, and the timbres became natural and more life-like. Having never tried a tube product before, I’m guessing the magic ingredient in the PB5 is the Nutubes? So, I returned the Burson Conductor 3X GT I had just bought to anchor a desktop set-up- its sound was transparent but way too lean paired with the Susvara- and ordered a Cayin HA-300 MkII after spending the last couple of days reading the 400+(!) pages about this amp on Head-Fi. I went straight for the good stuff with personal audio as I took a thousand baby steps upgrading my 2-channel set-up and ultimately wasted a lot of $

Questions: do you guys think the DAC in the D16 is good enough for a TOTL desktop system and what cable should I use to connect the D16 to the Cayin? Feel free to suggest cables >$100 as, coming from 2-channel audio, that’s normal, right?

 

[jamato8]

Questions: do you guys think the DAC in the D16 is good enough for a TOTL desktop system . . . .

Yes, IMO, without a doubt.

 

[JLeeMD]

Yes, IMO, without a doubt.

I’ve read many of your comments in the Cayin HA-300 MkII thread so I appreciate your opinion. Thank you

 

[Whitigir]

Hey guys, new to personal audio but not new to high-end audio. After building my end-game 2-channel set-up (Magico S3 MkII, Luxman M900u, Shunyata Everest), I turned to personal audio as my wife’s study being close to my set-up limited when I could enjoy my music. I bought the D16 to use with the Utopia 2022 (Kimber Axios connecting the two) and it sounded very good. Since I wanted a transportable set-up, I thought this was as good as it was going to get. I got curious about the PB5 so I ordered one and holy cow did the sound quality take a big leap forward. Soundstage exploded in every direction, the music flowed effortlessly, and the timbres became natural and more life-like. Having never tried a tube product before, I’m guessing the magic ingredient in the PB5 is the Nutubes? So, I returned the Burson Conductor 3X GT I had just bought to anchor a desktop set-up- its sound was transparent but way too lean paired with the Susvara- and ordered a Cayin HA-300 MkII after spending the last couple of days reading the 400+ (!) pages about this amp on Head-Fi. I went straight for the good stuff with personal audio as I took a thousand baby steps upgrading my 2-channel set-up and ultimately wasted a lot of $

Questions: do you guys think the DAC in the D16 is good enough for a TOTL desktop system and what cable should I use to connect the D16 to the Cayin? Feel free to suggest cables >$100 as, coming from 2-channel audio, that’s normal, right?

The DAC in the D16 is as I posted previously, a very innovative device that you only see from a few products from high ends such as Tambaqui DAC, and if you are familiar with high end stereo systems then you should know how good it is.

This D16 is like an upgraded in topology with miniaturized circuit components to make it into a battery operated devices with discrete components by Surface mounted parts (SMD). Please read this post from my POV
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ibasso-discrete-portable-dac-with-r2r-d16.971474/post-17941299

Coming from my own experiences, I recommends COAX for all PCM files. You don't need to have a shield construction. BuT even a shielded one is a better one than stock cables. Non shielded cables has a much better spaciousness and details balances retrievals. Best materials is PURE Silver UP quality or The best type of wires is Flat Foil wires (I know and tested many the different coaxed, please don't tell me that the coax here is not a real coax...only sound quality matters to me)

Then for DSD or PWM files, use USB cables with silver for wires materials. Again, non shielded but braided constructions

Yet, last but not least, also the most quality upgrades you can have for your D16 is

1/ Internal Wires within D16 itself
2/ Interconnect between D16 and PB5 from line out to line in. Recommending Pure silver once again

Why pure silver everywhere ?

1/ to my experiences, it sounds the best for balances, details, timbres

2/ analog density doesn't get effected by silver materials signatures as negatives but only positives.

Of course, I would recommend with my final phrase is to try different cables and decide for yourself

 

[medihoney123]

The DAC in the D16 is as I posted previously, a very innovative device that you only see from a few products from high ends such as Tambaqui DAC, and if you are familiar with high end stereo systems then you should know how good it is.

This D16 is like an upgraded in topology with miniaturized circuit components to make it into a battery operated devices with discrete components by Surface mounted parts (SMD). Please read this post from my POV
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/ibasso-discrete-portable-dac-with-r2r-d16.971474/post-17941299

Coming from my own experiences, I recommends COAX for all PCM files. You don't need to have a shield construction. BuT even a shielded one is a better one than stock cables. Non shielded cables has a much better spaciousness and details balances retrievals. Best materials is PURE Silver UP quality or The best type of wires is Flat Foil wires (I know and tested many the different coaxed, please don't tell me that the coax here is not a real coax...only sound quality matters to me)

Then for DSD or PWM files, use USB cables with silver for wires materials. Again, non shielded but braided constructions

Yet, last but not least, also the most quality upgrades you can have for your D16 is

1/ Internal Wires within D16 itself
2/ Interconnect between D16 and PB5 from line out to line in. Recommending Pure silver once again

Why pure silver everywhere ?

1/ to my experiences, it sounds the best for balances, details, timbres

2/ analog density doesn't get effected by silver materials signatures as negatives but only positives.

Of course, I would recommend with my final phrase is to try different cables and decide for yourself

Thanks!

I find it hard to find coax cables with the 3.5 connector

The usual high grade ones like siltech or crystal cables use the rca onky

What are your thoughts?

Thx

 

[Whitigir]

Thanks!

I find it hard to find coax cables with the 3.5 connector

The usual high grade ones like siltech or crystal cables use the rca onky

What are your thoughts?

Thx

You can see my tag there . So I make my own cables.

You can have the options to buy existing cables and modify it. Or find someone who can custom make one.

 

[JLeeMD]

Thanks guys for the replies. I’m confident now the D16 is a TOTL DAC. It has only a 4.4 or 3.5 output. So I need a 4.4 to dual XLR or 3.5 to dual RCA interconnect. Who makes these? Buying a generic one on Amazon does not give me the warm fuzzies

 

[jamato8]

Thanks guys for the replies. I’m confident now the D16 is a TOTL DAC. It has only a 4.4 or 3.5 output. So I need a 4.4 to dual XLR or 3.5 to dual RCA interconnect. Who makes these? Buying a generic one on Amazon does not give me the warm fuzzies

That is what I use. Either a 3.5 to RCAs or a 4.4 to XLR. I make my own. I don't know of a good company that makes them but I am positive they are out there. Maybe someone on here can advise you.

 

[meomap]

Thanks guys for the replies. I’m confident now the D16 is a TOTL DAC. It has only a 4.4 or 3.5 output. So I need a 4.4 to dual XLR or 3.5 to dual RCA interconnect. Who makes these? Buying a generic one on Amazon does not give me the warm fuzzies

Moon Audio

 

[jamato8]

Thanks guys for the replies. I’m confident now the D16 is a TOTL DAC. It has only a 4.4 or 3.5 output. So I need a 4.4 to dual XLR or 3.5 to dual RCA interconnect. Who makes these? Buying a generic one on Amazon does not give me the warm fuzzies

There are a number of good custom cable people. I would look for them. Some companies are well known, but I don't think their cables are that good and they are overpriced.

 

[Bengkia369]

I'm using this custom cables using Sommer coax with Neutrik plugs from Taobao
Very well made and high quality

 

[JLeeMD]

I'm using this custom cables using Sommer coax with Neutrik plugs from Taobao
Very well made and high quality

I need a 3.5 to DUAL RCA or 4.4 to dual XLR. I assume the balanced option is better. I do see Audioquest makes 3.5
to dual RCA but don’t see 4.4 to dual XLR options from anyone other than generic offerings on Amazon. Maybe I should ask the Cayin 300 MkII folks if there’s a difference in sound quality between the two inputs if I plan to use the 4 pin XLR output so I can get the extra juice for the Susvara

 

[Whitigir]

I need a 3.5 to DUAL RCA or 4.4 to dual XLR. I assume the balanced option is better. I do see Audioquest makes 3.5
to dual RCA but don’t see 4.4 to dual XLR options from anyone other than generic offerings on Amazon. Maybe I should ask the Cayin 300 MkII folks if there’s a difference in sound quality between the two inputs if I plan to use the 4 pin XLR output so I can get the extra juice for the Susvara

There are differences from Balanced out vs SE out

1/ D16 is true Balanced out in topology. It has 16 elements which is 4 elements per active signal polarizing....4X4 and we have D16. Therefore, in order to be SE out, it needs an additional summing stage to put all 4 signals together and creating 3 signals

2/ The best amp topology to pair with D16 would be a pure class A. So to avoid additional distortions from the signals crossing over. It gets even better if you can find pure Class A with full Balanced design

However, the differences depends on many other factors. It could be a lot to some one and negligible to others. Do pick your poison